France, Germany unable to continue fighter jet project, Elysee confirms

Dassault Aviation SA

08/06/2026 19:01

    PARIS, June 8 (Reuters) - France and Germany were unable to
continue their fighter jet project, as German authorities
decided it was not possible for the companies involved to
continue, the Elysee said on Monday.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel
Macron discussed the project in Montenegro last week and
concluded there was no way of breaking months of deadlock
between the arms firms involved in the plan, the officials said.
    "The German authorities considered that it was not possible
to put further pressure on the companies concerned," the Elysee
said in a statement.
    "The French authorities will continue to encourage our
companies and armed forces to explore ways and means of pursuing
ambitious European projects that are consistent with our
national security interests," it added.

(Reporting by Makini Brice; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
((mailto:M.Brice@thomsonreuters.com;))